By: Paige Hart
Mary catching up with 4-H friends at the Kentucky State Fair.
Our April Alumni Spotlight is Mary Steely, who presently works as the County Coordinator for the Webster County Adult Education-West Kentucky Educational Cooperative.
As a lifetime 4-H member, Mary gives the advice to current members, “Don’t get disappointed when you don’t get that purple ribbon on the first try, there are benefits from receiving blue and participating. Also, get as involved as you possibly can; the more you do, the more you will get out of this amazing program.”
Mary remembers the excitement to join 4-H saying, “All three of my brothers were 4-H club members. I could not wait until I was in the 4th grade to be in 4-H for the pretty ribbons!” Until she was a teenager, Mary’s main projects were Foods, Home Management, and Dairy. She was an active member of the Shelby County 4-H Dairy Club and showed both Jerseys and Holsteins and was a state high individual in dairy judging. She later got involved with leadership projects and even attended National Congress with a leadership project book. She also has fond memories from traveling to Washington D.C. for the American Heritage Conference. Her greatest accomplishment came when she was awarded the Conrad Feltner Award for Youth Service.
1984-1985 State Teen Council. Mary is in the middle behind Jamie Rose, State President (in the green jacket). Leland, Mary’s husband, is on the far left, second from the back row.
In 1984, she likes to joke that she was “pulled up from the minor league” to complete a term as a Louisville Area Representative on the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Council. She served as State 4-H Treasurer 1986 to 1987. Her highlights from that year include State Fair, National Farm Machinery Show, representing 4-H at the Kentucky State Farm Bureau Convention, and planning and preparing for 4-H Week.
Mary’s 4-H story would not be complete without her biggest memory. “At that 1984 June State Teen Council meeting, I clearly remember Leland Steely, a Purchase Region representative, coming up to me and tapping me on the shoulder and introducing himself,” said Mary. “Little did we know.” To make a long story short, Leland and Mary were married April 1, 1995 surrounded by 4-H family. The family she has made in 4-H is incomparable and is always there for each other in good and bad times. She loves to reconnect with them at Homecoming, the Volunteer Forum, and the State Fair.
She had no idea how big a part 4-H and Extension would and continues to play in her life. “My dad was one of the first 4-H Club members in the state being in the founding Corn Clubs. He served as President of the Shelby County Extension Council and on the District Extension Board until his death,” said Mary. “Mom was the Cropper 4-H Community Club leader, President of the Shelby County 4-H Council, and nominated for State Master Farm Homemaker. Leland also had many family members in Extension.” It is only natural that both their children would follow with clover footprints. Sarah served on State Teen Council, received State Gold Award, attended National 4-H Congress, won state demonstrations, and worked as an intern at the Webster County Extension Office. Their son, Walter, is currently on the State Teen Council, received State Bronze Award, and has placed in the Top 11 at State 4-H Livestock Skill-A-Thon the past three years.
4-H family surrounding Mary and Leland on their Wedding day.
Mary jokes that you can’t call it giving back, if you never left. She does admit, “Both Leland and I would not be the people we are without 4-H and want others to develop in the program like we did.” Mary continues to be involved by volunteering as an adult leader for Calloway County 4-H and Webster County 4-H. She is currently serving her sixth year as Webster County 4-H Council Secretary and has judged State Country Ham Speeches and State Communications Day. Mary has truly made the best better in Kentucky 4-H!
